{"id":14783,"date":"2020-04-14T14:40:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T14:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelandhale.com\/wordpress\/?p=14783"},"modified":"2020-04-14T20:44:24","modified_gmt":"2020-04-14T20:44:24","slug":"why-pickpockets-tried-why-failed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lelandhale.com\/wordpress\/why-pickpockets-tried-why-failed\/","title":{"rendered":"Failed: Why the Pickpockets Tried Anyway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The goal for the jug troupe was a quick strike. Take the money and run<\/em>. That they failed in that quest is its own story. There are at least two threads here, to which I’ve already alluded: the location of their chosen cash-in spot and my quick call to the bank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Crime Scene to Cash In<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with this insight from Maj. Walter Gilmour, my Butcher, Baker<\/a><\/em> co-author: criminals tend to commit crimes in areas that are familiar to them. Usually close to home. By that logic, \u00a1Viva Mexico! and his tres compa\u00f1eros<\/em> likely lived somewhere in the Roma Sur<\/a> neighborhood where the crime occurred<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Crime Scene<\/strong>, Roma Sur<\/a>, CDMX
(courtesy Google Street View)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once the crime succeeded, it made sense for them to cash-in immediately, lest the fast-moving banking system catch up with them. Here’s where their failed decision-making first made itself known. For example, the nearest Liverpool store — if they indeed had some compelling reason to go to a Liverpool location — was 10 minutes by car from the crime scene. Surely they knew that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Nearest Liverpool Department Store<\/strong> from crime scene
(courtesy Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Go Somewhere Else<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We know, by the following text message from my bank, that this was NOT where they went. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"failed\"
Text Message from BofA<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So where is Liverpool Tezontle? Due east of the crime scene and due south of the CDMX Airport. What? That’s twenty-five minutes<\/em> from the Roma Sur location. In the shots below, you see the store and then its map location. It’s a big reason they failed. As it turns out, that fifteen minute differential was a huge delta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Liverpool Canal de Tezontle<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/
Liverpool store, Tezontle<\/strong>, CDMX
(courtesy Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Would You Do That?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There must have been some reason they took that fifteen minute detour, apart from their apparent arrogance. If we go back to Gilmour’s “rule” — that criminals are most active in their own backyard — they were probably known<\/em> in their Roma Sur playground. Known by sight, even, at places like the nearest Liverpool. Known because the pinch point happens the second they start messing with credit cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence they may have felt compelled to travel fifteen minutes farther than their nearest cash-in location. And, of course, they needed a Liverpool equivalent because where else could they rack up such huge charges? It’s also possible they had a compatriot who worked at the Tezontle location. An insider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"failed\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In any event, they were too clever by half. Because… that US$3768.96 is equivalent to MX$89,432.73. Ain’t that a sore thumb transaction? An automatic (Declined)? But even with two declines in quick succession, it was still worth a try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average person in Mexico typically earns MX$26,8000 per month<\/em>. So even though that MX$89,432 haul would be severely discounted — it was hot merchandise and had to be fenced — each crewmember stood to bring in up to a half-month’s salary. In a single day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I guarantee you, they’re already back at it. Today. Tomorrow. And the day after that. They get thirty chances a month to get it right. And pickpocketing is one of the hardest crimes to prosecute. You think I could point out any of them in a lineup? You think the cops would even bother? Hell, it’s almost a victimless crime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The goal for the jug troupe was a quick strike. Take the money and run. That they failed in that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,106,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-mexico","category-true-crime"],"yoast_head":"\nFailed: Why the Pickpockets Tried Anyway - Leland E. Hale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"That the pickpockets failed is due to some luck. And to the circumstances surrounding their crime. 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